Category: Self Expression

“Hwy 51 runs right by

Luckily both Seth and I prefer two lane black top over the Interstate. So we took Hwy 51 to and from the ABANA Conference in Memphis. The photographs seen below were created on the way home “…up Wisconsin way…” in Historic Cairo, IL (which has the highest child poverty in Illinois); at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. And a slide show with more photographs from Hwy 51.

“…my baby’s door
Highway 51 runs right by my baby’s door
If I don’t get the girl I’m loving

(click images for larger view)

Won’t go down to Highway 51 no more.

Well, I know that highway like I know my hand
Yes, I know that highway like I know the back of my hand
Running from up Wisconsin way down to no man’s land.

Well, if I should die before my time should come
And if I should die before my time should come
Won’t you bury my body out on the Highway 51.

Highway 51 runs right by my baby’s door
I said, Highway 51 runs right by my baby’s door
If I don’t get the girl I’m loving
Won’t go down to Highway 51 no more.”
—lyrics © Bob Dylan

Beale Street 25 years later

Twenty five plus years ago I spent a day on Beale Street, the “home of the blues and birthplace of rock’n’roll.” At 39 it felt real. Musicians were on the street and in the clubs. Earlier this month, while attending the ABANA Conference in Memphis, Seth and I spent an evening on the street and it felt a lot more like a bizarre carnival. Every establishment had a hawker yelling out the reasons to enter their establishment. The musicians on every other corner were gone. There was a new little park with a stage where one could “do your thing” and it was surrounded by junk tents. Hustlers were selling Elvis’ drivers license for $45, laminated and appearing never used. Some decent blues could still be heard in a couple clubs; but the street ambiance of 25 years ago has disappeared; or so it seemed to my now 64 year old memory bank. View a slide show of additional Beale Street images.

(click image for larger view)

M8, 35mm Summilux Asph

Evening demonstrations at ABANA Conference

June 2nd, after the first day of photographing the 2010 ABANA Conference Gallery items, we strolled through the demonstrator’s tents; where metal met fire to become functional and decorative objects. Additional images from this stroll can be seen in a short slide show here.

(click images below for larger view)

Leica M8, 50mm Summilux Asph

2010 ABANA Conference, Memphis, TN

Last Tuesday Seth Tyler and I drove to Memphis for the 2010 ABANA Conference. Seth, besides creating very impressive metal work (both sculptural and functional), turned out to be the best studio assistant I’ve ever worked with.

We photographed about 120 hand wrought metal pieces, ranging in size from virtual jewelry, to pieces 7 feet on the long dimension; in three extremely intense days. Additionally I delivered two 2 hour seminars on how the blacksmiths can improve their own photography. The photograph below shows me working with a shelf bracket on the small sweep. Just to the left we also had a 9 foot sweep.

(click image for a larger view)

perpetual examination, inquiry, looking into…

“Photography is only intuition, a perpetual interrogation – everything except a stage set.” — Henri Cartier-Bresson

“When gifts are given to me through my camera, I accept them graciously.” — Minor White

(click image for larger view)

Leica M8, 35mm Summilux Asph

kids and dogs

“A well-composed image will catch our attention because the eye finds a certain satisfaction in composure. But that is not enough. Good photographs are also disturbing, and inevitably remind us of what we have overlooked.” – John Rosenthal

Do you find these photographs disturbing; do they remind you?
(click image for larger view – recommended)

Leica M8, 35mm Summilux Asph